Attend — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /ə-ˈtend/ at·tend

Meaning & Definition of Attend

Attend (verb)

  1. to be present at, to go to
  2. to pay attention to
  3. to look after, to take charge of

Attend (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to go along with in order to provide assistance, protection, or companionship

    "a passel of assistants attend the movie star wherever she goes"

    similar: accompany, chaperone, companion, company, convoy, escort, see, squire
    related: walk, associate, consort, pal (around), team (up), defend, guard, protect, bring, conduct, guide, lead, pilot, steer, usher, follow, shadow, tag, tag along, tail, hang (around), hover (over)
    near: abandon, desert, ditch, dump, forsake

  2. to pay attention especially through the act of hearing

    "I'm sorry, but all the noise means I'm having a hard time attending to the conversation"

    similar: hark, harken, hear, hearken, heed, listen, mind, prick up one's ears
    opposite: ignore, tune out
    near: discount, disregard

  3. to take charge of especially on behalf of another

    "tired of attending other people's children, the nanny was eager to have a child of her own"

    similar: care (for), mind, oversee, superintend, supervise, tend, watch, look after, see after, see to, take care of
    related: administrate, conduct, control, direct, govern, guide, manage, operate, preside (over), regulate, run, steward, guard, patrol, protect, safeguard, shield, baby, babysit, chaperone, mother, shepherd
    near: abandon, disregard, forget, ignore, neglect, pass over

  4. to occur or exist at the same time

    "all the pomp and circumstance that attend the opening of the Olympic Games"

    similar: accompany, co-occur, coexist, coincide, concur, synchronize
    related: chance, hap, happen, transpire
    near: antedate, precede, predate, follow, succeed

Related Entry: Attend (to) (verb)

Attend (to) is a different word from Attend. The synonyms below are for attend (to), not for attend.

  1. as in treat, care (for)

    similar: care (for), doctor, medicate, minister (to), nurse, physic, treat, cure, fix, heal, mend, rehab, rehabilitate, set up, fortify, rejuvenate, renew, resuscitate, revitalize, revive, alleviate, relieve, remedy, repair
    opposite: cripple, damage, disable, harm, hurt, impair, injure, lacerate, lame, maim, mangle, mutilate, wound, afflict, ail, debilitate, enervate, enfeeble, lay up, sap, sicken, waste, weaken

  2. as in consider, mind

    similar: consider, heed, mark, mind, identify, make out, pick out, pick up, study, watch, behold, catch, descry, discern, distinguish, espy, eye, look (at), note, notice, observe, perceive, regard, remark, see, sight, spot, spy, view, witness, examine, inspect, scan, scrutinize, survey, glance (at), glimpse, peer (at)
    opposite: disregard, ignore, neglect, overpass, pass over, miss, overlook

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Attend

The most common words with a similar meaning to Attend:

accompany, chaperone, companion, company, convoy, escort, see, squire, hark, harken, hear, hearken, heed, listen, mind, care (for), oversee, superintend, supervise, tend, watch, co-occur, coexist, coincide, concur, synchronize, prick up one's ears, look after, see after, see to, take care of

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Attend

Words with the opposite meaning of Attend:

ignore, tune out

Related Words for Attend

walk, associate, consort, pal (around), team (up), defend, guard, protect, bring, conduct, guide, lead, pilot, steer, usher, follow, shadow, tag, tag along, tail, hang (around), hover (over), administrate, control, direct, govern, manage, operate, preside (over), regulate

Near Antonyms of Attend

abandon, desert, ditch, dump, forsake, discount, disregard, forget, neglect, pass over, antedate, precede, predate, follow, succeed

Word Forms of Attend

Inflections: attended, attending, attends

Derived words: attender (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Attend

Middle English, from Anglo-French atendre, from Latin attendere, literally, to stretch to, from ad- + tendere to stretch thin

First known use: 14th centuryt

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Attend

Frequently Asked Questions about Attend

What does "Attend" mean?

"Attend" means to be present at, to go to. As a verb, it is defined as: to be present at, to go to. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Attend"?

Other words for "Attend" include accompany, chaperone, companion, company, convoy, escort, see and squire. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Attend" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Attend"?

There are 74 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Attend". Common alternatives include accompany, chaperone, companion, company, convoy, escort, see, squire, hark and harken.

What is the opposite of "Attend"?

Antonyms of "Attend" include ignore and tune out. Near antonyms include abandon, desert, ditch and dump.

How do you use "Attend" in a sentence?

Examples of "Attend" in a sentence: "a passel of assistants attend the movie star wherever she goes"; "I'm sorry, but all the noise means I'm having a hard time attending to the conversation"; "tired of attending other people's children, the nanny was eager to have a child of her own".

Is "Attend" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Attend" is a verb.

Is "Attend" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A2-level word, "Attend" is typical of Cambridge A2 Key (KET), PTE Academic 30–42, TOEIC Listening & Reading 225+.

How do you pronounce "Attend"?

"Attend" is pronounced /ə-ˈtend/ and divided into syllables as at·tend.